The Difference Between Being Busy and Being Productive at Work

Have you ever had days where you were so busy at work that, when it was all over, you hadn't really finished most of the tasks you needed to? Still, you're not by yourself. False: A common misconception is that productivity is equal to long hours spent at a desk. Let me explain those in the following way:

Productive people focus on one thing at a time. Most people think that multitasking is a sign of productivity. answering emails in the midst of a Skype meeting with the manager. completing a report and fielding a client call simultaneously. However, studies show that when people switch between tasks, they have trouble focusing and remembering specifics. Not to mention that multitasking makes us more likely to make mistakes.

On the other hand, effective people focus on finishing one task at a time. They focus all of their concentration and energy into their work, which helps them finish it more quickly and efficiently. If you always say "yes" when someone at work asks for help, even if it requires up too much of your time, you're one of the effective individuals who consciously say "yes." If you often take on more work even when your mind is already full, you're probably not very productive because you're always busy instead of working on anything productive.

Productive people "choose their battles." When they understand they cannot be able to deal with anything, they are okay with saying "no" out of respect for their time. They weigh the potential outcomes and if taking on more work might interfere with their priorities before doing so. Productive people choose a limited set of objectives. Individuals that are busy typically have a long list of tasks that they must complete during the day. They put forth a lot of effort at work and work quickly to complete tasks so they can have everything done before the end of the day.

On the other hand, those who are productive select a limited set of priorities. At day's start, they determine which priorities are most important and where they will focus their entire attention. They understand that trying to take on too much at once and jumping around aimlessly will just make them less productive. As a whole To sum up, productive people have strong time management abilities, are more strategic in their goal-setting, and recognize the importance of setting priorities. By virtue of simply being active, however, and associating action with success, active people aim to do more.